"Me and My Introversion" by Annette McCue Hafford (Waldo County)

I like to imagine my introversion as a cat 
It curls around me when I’m feeling lonely 
And sits in my lap as I read a book 

My cat’s favorite part is in the spring 
When we go on flower walks, looking for spring life 
Together we walk 
And it’s just me and my companion on the street 

We also love the summer 
When it comes with me to the beach 
Herding me away from those loud, rambunctious puppies 
And following me on a nice, long swim 

My favorite part is in the fall 
When I take my cat with me to cross country practice 
And together we run 
Just me and my feline shadow on the trails 

We also love the winter 
The good, stormy bits 
Where we just cuddle up 
With a good fuzzy blanket 
And a new book 

In the winter, it accompanies me 
When I huddle up in a million blankets 
Hiding me from the bitter wind of voices 
That cause headaches and fatigue 

I said fall was my favorite 
And it is pretty good 
But I changed my mind 
My true favorite is during a blizzard 
When school is canceled 
And we sit together, warm each other 

Just me and my introversion.

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Annette McCue Hafford is an 11 year old 7th grader at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast. She wrote the poem “Me and My Introversion” to express how she likes to spend time alone. Annette likes to spend her free time running Cross Country in the fall, and writing and reading or rock climbing in the spring/winter.